A 'Yes' Girl...

What does it mean to be a "yes" girl? I've been thinking about this since yesterday.  I'm not talking about always saying "yes" to everything--because...well....that's just exhausting.  I think that it means living from a place of yes. (Simple enough, right?)  It means not living the no.  I think it means having a thankful heart.  Because here's the thing:  God is in control.  He is Jehovah Jireh--which is translated "The Lord will provide."  When we thank Him for his provision before he even provides--i think it blesses the Lord.  He's always provided for His people--has He not? He knows what we want or need before we even ask.  That blows my mind. Here's what i heard yesterday in church and what i am certain of: Thankfulness is the soil that yields a harvest.  Think about that for a minute. 

I've blogged about the word "eucharisto" before.  It means "thanksgiving."   I want to have a more thankful heart.  Over a year ago, i blogged about this word.  I learned in Ann Voskamp's book that "thanksgiving precedes the miracle." It precedes the blessing.

I think it's easy to say "well, ofcourse i'm thankful for __________ or _________." It's one thing to know that i'm thankful for my life, my job, my family, whatever....but how often do i actually spend time speaking these words--vocalizing my thankfulness to the One who has provided? How often do i thank Him for doing something before He's even done it? THAT takes faith.  

So, what am i trying to say on this Monday morning? I'm trying to remind myself that 1. I need to say "yes" to God.  I need to say--'you know what, Lord, whatever you have for me--that's what i want.  I want to learn to say yes to Him.  I want to step boldly into the future He has for me.  2.  I need to recognize that He is Jehovah Jireh--He will provide.  It's what He does.  3.  I need to develop a more thankful heart.   Speak it out.  I think joy will rise up in us when we practice thankfulness.

thankfulness-->joy

You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest...
Isaiah 9:3

By no means have i perfected the practice of thankfulness.  But i'm determined to make it a habit of my heart.  So, all this sounds good but let's make this practical.  Beginning today for the next 21 days i'm going to do what i should already be doing begin to actually practice thankfulness.  Each morning.  Before work.  I'm going to sit on my floor with a sweet pup in my lap, a Bible in my hands, read, pray, and tell God what i'm thankful for.  I'm even going to thank Him for the things He has yet to do.  Why 21 days? Because they say it takes 21 days to make something a habit.  So, we'll see what He wants to do in the next 3 weeks...